OOC: There are two things that hindered me from posting and I'm awfully sorry for both. The first is a lack of creativity - I somehow have no idea for a new mission (well, I had one, but I cannot use it with this mission ending this way). And the second was the good book a friend borrowed me.
IC:
I took two days before K'rak was stitched together again which were uneventful for Peper, but a hell for James. Several times, he could be heard arguing with the commander or seen walking through the base with a facial expression that made absolutely clear that his face would be red of anger if he had red blood, which he had not.
But finally, everything seemed to clear up and as they entered the spaceship bringing them home, he smiled diabolically when the hatch closed, but said nothing. At home, he brought K'rak to a good hospital, delivered Peper to a mechanic and left for three days, time enough for everyone to be in shape again. Then, he came back and immediately called the two for a briefing.
"I cannot deny that this mission was a failure for everyone of us. The Commander paid me nothing because he lost a Cicada the day after the great assault. This was not our fault, really, but he nonetheless made us pay for it. This makes future planning difficult. I will not conceal you that we are low on funds."
He paused for a second as if it was difficult to say the next thing. Then he shook his head slightly and said, more to himself than to anyone in the room: "James Telcontar, master of the seven deaths, betrayed and tricked by a merc commander who cannot tell the right end of a knife from the wrong." He grinned and continued loud: "He may think that he outwitted me, but he still stays a fool, and a blind one, too. I've stole his Gauss Assault rifles right in front of his face. Each of them is worth a whole company of soldiers. But I don't need a whole company. I need a skilled task force and that is why I sold them to pay the healing of K'rak." He suddenly seemed to collapse into his chair. He waved with his hand and said without looking at them: "Ah, just forget the whole process. You are healed and I got some applications, so we should ignore what happened and just do our job. Tomorrow will be the official briefing, so get some sleep."